Milk-jar box.



W. L. DUNTLEY.

MILK JAE BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED n.6, 1910.

Patented Aug. 16,1910.

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w. L. DUNTLEY.

MILK JAB BOX.

'APPLIOATIOK FILED JAN. 6, 1910.

Patented Aug. 16,1910.

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WILLIAM L. DUNTLEY, 0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

MILK-JAR BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

Application filed January 6, 1910. Serial No. 536,676.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. DUNT- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Milk-Jar Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved milk-jar box for family use, from which the jar cannot be removed unless the person desiring to remove it has a key which fits the lock.

Milk-jar boxes are usually secured to buildings or otherwise placed where they are accessible to the milk-man or other person whose duty it is to leave milk in jars for his customers and to call for the empty jars. In this improvement the key is in the hands only of the customer or consumer, who only therefore is able to remove the jar when it is filled with milk. When an empty jar is placed in the box, the box is so left that the milk-man can remove the empty jar and insert in place of it a full jar. He then pushes in a bar whereby the receptacle is locked, and no one but the housekeeper or consumer or other person having the key is able to unlock it.

The invention consists of a certain a1- rangement or combination of parts, all as fully described below, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which v Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing the milk-jar box locked and with a jar of milk inside. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22, Fig. 1, looking toward the left, the ar not being shown. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Reference numeral 10 represents the bottom, 11 and 12 the opposite sides, 13 the back, and 14: the top or roof of a box adapted in size and shape to receive a milk-jar. The roof is preferably sloping. A vertical partition 15 separates the box into two compartments, viz., a comparatively large compartment on the left side of the partition and a comparatively small compartment on the right side. The large compartment is for the reception of the milk-jar and is.

open; that is, there is no door. The smaller compartment is provided with a vertical door 16, which is hinged preferably at 17 to the side wall 11, and is provided with an ordinary lock 18 on its inner side and with a knob or handle 19 on its outer side. The side wall 11 and partition 15 are provided with two preferably circular holes or passages located at the same distance above the bottom or floor 10, said holes being adapted to receive slidingly a somewhat large horizontal bolt 20. This bolt is adapted to extend through both of the holes and into a recess of suitable size and shape illustrated by dotted lines 21 in Fig. 3, said recess being located in the wall 12 at the same distance from the floor as the holes in the wall 11 and partition 15. The bolt 20 is provided with an annular groove 22, illustrated in full lines and also in dotted lines in Fig. 3, said groove being, when the bolt is in the position illustrated in full lines in the figures, inside the compartment between the wall 11 and partition 15 and preferably next said partition. A locking bar 23 is hinged at 24 to the partition 15 near its rear portion, and extends forward into said groove 22, being held securely in position in said groove, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, by a spring 25, one end of which is secured to the bar 23 and the other at 26 to the partition at a convenient distance below said bar. The vertical movements of the bar are limited by a suitable strap or staple 27 secured in said partition in the ordinary manner. The front end of the bar is in the front portion of the compartment between the partition 15 and the wall 11, and is easily accessible when the door 16 is open. The outer end of the bolt 20 extends preferablya little beyond the outer surface of the side wall 11, as illustrated.

28 represents an ordinary milk-jar.

In practice, when a jar filled with milk is in position in the box the parts are as illustrated in full lines in the different figures, the door 16 being locked, and the key being in the possession of the housekeeper or her employee. When the jar is to be removed by the consumer, the door is unlocked and swung open, the locking bar 23 is lifted out of the groove 22 by inserting a finger under the front endof the bar, and the bolt 20 is drawn out into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, being grasped either by its projecting end or by its main portion in front of the milk-jar. The jar can then be removed and an empty jar put in its place. The empty jar having been inserted in the box, the bolt 20 is left extending out, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the door 16 is closed and locked. Themilk-man on his rounds finds the empty jar in the box free to be removed, and removes it and replaces it With a full jar, and then pushes in the bolt until it reaches the position illustrated in full lines in the drawings, and the locking bar 23 drops into the groove 22 and is held there by gravity and by the spiral spring 25, and the jar of milk cannot be removed until the housekeeper or someone in authority opens the door 16 With the key.

Of course I do not confine myself to the particular means described of supporting the inner end of the bolt, as it may be sustained in any ordinary manner, nor do I confine myself to the exact shape shown of the box.

Preferably a pin 29 is inserted in the bolt near its inner end, in order to limit the out- Ward movement of the bolt.

lVhi-le this device is constructed particularly for the purpose of preventing thieves from stealing jars of milk, jars or similar receptacles containing other food products may be applied to the box if desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a box of the general character described, a structure comprising a bottom, top, sides and back; a substantially vertical partition so disposed as to provide a compartment for the jar on one side and a lock compartment on the other side provided With a door capable of being locked; a sliding bolt extending substantially horizontally through one of the side walls, the lock compartment and the partition into the jar compartment in front of the jar, thus c011- fining it in its compartment; and mechanism in the lock compartment accessible by opening the doorwhereby the bolt is held stationary in front of the ar.

2. I11 a box of the general character de scribed, a structure comprising a bottom, top, sides and back; a substantially vertical partition so disposed as to provide a compartment for the jar on one side and a lock compartment on the other side provided with a door capable of being locked; a sliding bolt extending substantially horizontally through one of the side walls, the lock coinpartment and the partition into the jar coinpartment in front of the jar, said bolt being provided with an annular groove which is in the lock compartment when the bolt is in front of the door; a locking bar in the lock compartment resting normally in said groove; and means for holding the said bar normally in the groove when the bolt is closed and on the bolt while it is witlldrawn from the jar compartment.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM L. DUNTLEY.

Witnesses:

HENRY VVILLIAMS, JOSEPH I. DUNTLEY. 

